Heat exchange apparatus

ABSTRACT

A heat exchange apparatus includes an enclosure and a heat exchanger. The enclosure internally defines a first space and a second space isolated from each other, and is provided with a first and a second air inlet communicating with the first and the second space, respectively. The heat exchanger is arranged inside the enclosure and located between the first and the second space. By providing the heat exchanger between the first and the second space inside the enclosure, heat can be exchanged between the first and the second space to enable effectively upgraded heat exchange efficiency, and a device using the heat exchange apparatus is protected against invasion by foreign matters via the heat exchange apparatus.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a heat exchange apparatus, and more particularly to a heat exchange apparatus that not only provides upgraded heat exchange efficiency but also restrains foreign matters from invading into a heat-generating device via the heat exchange apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Heat is transferred mainly in three ways, namely, conduction, convection and radiation. Conduction is the transfer of heat from a high-temperature point to a low-temperature point via a medium; convection is the cyclic movement of a fluid, such as air or water, when being heated to change the density thereof; and radiation is the direct transfer of heat without using any medium.

For fluids, convection is the major and most effective way of heat transfer. FIG. 8 illustrates a conventional heat exchanger 6, which has a plurality of air guiding ports provided thereon and is internally divided into a first space 62 and a second space 63. The air guiding ports include a first and a second air guiding port 611, 612 located closer to one end of the heat exchanger 6, and a third and a fourth air guiding port 613, 614 located closer to another opposite end of the heat exchanger 6. The first and the second air guiding port 611, 612 are located opposite to each other and communicate with the first space 62; and the third and the fourth air guiding port 613, 614 are located opposite to each other and communicate with the second space 63.

The second and the third air guiding port 612, 613 respectively have a fan 7 aligned therewith and connected thereto. When the conventional heat exchanger 6 is mounted on, for example, a communication chassis 8 or a communication cabinet to perform heat exchange, the fan 7 at the third air guiding port 613 forcedly draws external air into the second space 63. The air drawn into the second space 63 is then guided through the fourth air guiding port 614 into the communication chassis 8. Meanwhile, the fan 7 at the second air guiding port 612 also forcedly draws the heat generated by electronic elements inside the communication chassis 8 into the first space 62. The heat drawn into the first space 62 is then guided through the first air guiding port 611 into an environment outside the heat exchanger 6 and the communication chassis 8. In this manner, it is able to achieve the effect of heat exchange to carry away heat from the communication chassis 8.

However, while the conventional heat exchanger 6 is able to achieve the purpose of heat exchange, it could not restrain external foreign matters from invading into the communication chassis 8. More specifically, since the third air guiding port 613 communicates the external environment with the second space 63 in the heat exchanger 6 and the fourth air guiding port 614 communicates the second space 63 with the receiving space inside the communication chassis 8, foreign matters, such as dust, moisture, etc., in the external environment tend to be carried by the air forcedly drawn by the fan 7 to enter into the communication chassis 8. Such foreign matters invading into the communication chassis 8 would wet or attach to the electronic elements inside the communication chassis 8 to cause damage thereof.

In conclusion, the conventional heat exchanger has the following disadvantages: (1) failing to restrain external foreign matters from invading into the communication chassis; (2) having low heat exchange efficiency; and (3) providing poor heat dissipation effect.

It is therefore tried by the inventor to solve the above problems by developing an improved heat exchange apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchange apparatus that includes a heat exchanger disposed inside an enclosure, so that heat is exchanged between a first and a second space, which are defined in the enclosure and isolated from each other, to ensure effectively upgraded heat exchange efficiency and restrain foreign matters from invading into a heat-generating device via the heat exchange apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchange apparatus that provides excellent heat dissipation effect.

To achieve the above and other objects, the heat exchange apparatus according to the present invention includes an enclosure, which internally defines at least a first space and at least a second space isolated from each other and is provided with a first and a second air inlet corresponding to and communicating with the first and the second space, respectively; and a heat exchanger arranged inside the enclosure to locate between the first and the second space. With the above structural design, the heat exchange apparatus of the present invention has largely increased heat exchange efficiency to achieve excellent heat dissipation effect and is able to restrain foreign matters from invading into a heat-generating device via the heat exchange apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a heat exchange apparatus according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the heat exchange apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of a heat exchanger for the heat exchange apparatus according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a variant of the heat exchange apparatus according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of a heat exchanger for a heat exchange apparatus according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6A is an exploded perspective view of a heat exchange apparatus according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a vertical sectional view of a heat exchanger for the heat exchange apparatus according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a variant of the heat exchange apparatus according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a conventional heat exchanger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described with some preferred embodiments thereof and with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the purpose of easy to understand, elements that are the same in the preferred embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Please refer to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. A heat exchange apparatus 1 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an enclosure 10 and a heat exchanger 20. The enclosure 10 is provided with a first air inlet 104, a second air inlet 105, at least one first space 13, and at least one second space 14. The enclosure 10 is formed by aligning and connecting a first cover 101 and a second cover 102 to each other, so that the connected first and the second cover 101, 102 together define the first space 13 and the second space 14 in between them.

The first air inlet 104 and the second air inlet 105 are formed on the enclosure 10 corresponding to and communicating with the first space 13 and the second space 14, respectively. The first space 13 is isolated from the second space 14, i.e., as shown in FIG. 1, the first space 13 and the second space 14 are not communicable with each other.

The heat exchanger 20 is arranged inside the enclosure 10 and located between the first and the second space 13, 14. A working fluid is filled in the heat exchanger 20. While the illustrated first preferred embodiment is hereunder explained with the working fluid being a coolant, it is understood that, in practical implementation of the present invention, the working fluid is not necessarily limited to a coolant but can be any other fluid that can be vaporized to facilitate heat dissipation, such as purified water, inorganic compounds, alcohols, ketone, liquid-phase metals, organic compounds, or different combinations thereof.

The heat exchanger 20 includes a condensing section 21, a vaporization section 22, and an interconnection section 23. The condensing section 21 and the vaporization 22 are located in the first space 13 and the second space 14, respectively; and the interconnection section 23 is located between the first and the second space 13, 14 and has two opposite ends connected to the condensing section 21 and the vaporization section 22, respectively. While the illustrated first preferred embodiment is explained with the condensing section 21, the vaporization section 22 and the interconnection section 23 being pipes, it is understood that, in practical implementation of the present invention, they are not necessarily limited to pipes but can be designed according to the space available in the enclosure 10 and the required heat dissipation effect. For example, the condensing section 21, the vaporization section 22 and the interconnection section 23 can be selectively flat plates internally defining a chamber or be any other configuration having an internal chamber.

Please refer to FIG. 3 along with FIG. 1. The condensing section 21 and the vaporization section 22 internally define a first chamber 211 and a second chamber 221, respectively; and the interconnection section 23 includes a plurality of pipes, which can be equally or unequally spaced from one another. Each of the pipes of the interconnection section 23 internally defines a passage 231 communicating the first chamber 211 with the second chamber 221, such that, via the passages 231, the working fluid in vapor phase in the second chamber 221 can flow into the first chamber 211 and the working fluid in liquid phase in the first chamber 211 can flow back into the second chamber 221.

Furthermore, a plurality of radiating fins 25 is provided between any two adjacent pipes of the interconnection section 23, so as to assist in and accelerate heat dissipation. In the enclosure 10, there is further included a partition plate 15 located between the condensing section 21 and the vaporization section 22. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the partition plate 15 is formed in the enclosure 10 at a position between the two opposite ends of the interconnection section 23, such that the partition plate 15 and the interconnection section 23 form an integral unit with four peripheral edges of the partition plate 15 tightly abutted on inner wall surfaces of the enclosure 10. Therefore, the first space 13 and the second space 14 are separated from each other by the partition plate 15 to form two independent spaces.

When hot air flows or is introduced into the second space 14 via the second air inlet 105, heat in the hot air will be immediately absorbed by the vaporization section 22 of the heat exchanger 20 located in the second space 14. The liquid-phase working fluid in the second chamber 221 of the vaporization section 22 is then heated and vaporized by the absorbed heat and transforms into vapor phase. The vapor-phase working fluid in the vaporization section 22 automatically flows through the passages 231 to the first chamber 211 of the condensing section 21, which is located in the first space 13 and has temperature lower than that of the vaporization section 22. The vapor-phase working fluid flowed into the first chamber 211 of the condensing section 21 is cooled and quickly transforms into liquid phase again; and the liquid-phase working fluid in the first chamber 211 flows from the condensing section 21 through the passages 231 back to the second chamber 221 of the vaporization section 22 due to gravity force. Through continuous vapor-liquid circulation cycles in the heat exchanger 20, it is able to obtain largely upgraded heat exchange efficiency and accordingly excellent heat dissipation effect. Meanwhile, external foreign matters are restrained from invading into a heat-generating device, such as a communication chassis, via the heat exchange apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a variant of the heat exchange apparatus 1 according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this variant, the enclosure 10 is further provided with a plurality of first vents 161 and a plurality of second vents 162. The first vents 161 are through holes formed on the enclosure 10 between the partition plate 15 and the first air inlet 104 to communicate with the first space 13; and the second vents 162 are through holes formed on the enclosure 10 between the partition plate 15 and the second air inlet 105 to communicate with the second space 14.

Further, a first and a second forced convection element 40, 41 are further provided inside the enclosure 10 to align with and connect to the first and the second air inlet 104, 105, respectively. The first forced convection element 40 is located in the first space 13 and has a first air-in side 401 and a first air-out side 402. The first air-in side 401 of the first forced convection element 40 is faced toward and connected to the first air inlet 104 to forcedly guide air into the first space 13.

The second forced convection element 41 is located in the second space 14 and has a second air-in side 411 and a second air-out side 412. The second air-in side 411 of the second forced convection element 411 is faced toward and connected to the second air inlet 105 to forcedly guide air into the second space 14. While the illustrated variant of the first preferred embodiment of the heat exchange apparatus 1 is explained with the first and second forced convection elements 40, 41 being centrifugal fans, it is understood they are not necessarily limited thereto but can be any other types of fans that can be used to enable forced heat dissipation.

When the first forced convection element 40 forcedly draws in external cold air via the first air-in side 401, the drawn air is pressurized in the first forced convection element 40 before exiting the latter into the first space 13. The air then passes the condensing section 21 to accelerate the cooling of the still hot vapor-phase working fluid flowed into the first chamber 211 and then finally flows out of the first space 13 via the first vents 161.

On the other hand, the second forced convection element 41 forcedly draws in hot air from a heat-generating device via the second air-in side 411, and the drawn air is pressurized in the second forced convection element 41 before exiting the latter into the second space 14. When the hot air passes and contacts with the vaporization section 22, the latter quickly absorbs more heat from the hot air before the air finally flows out of the second space 14 via the second vents 162. Therefore, the provision of the first and second forced convection elements 40, 41 can effectively increase the speed at which the air circulates in the first and the second space 13, 14.

Please refer to FIG. 5 that is a horizontal sectional view of a heat exchanger for a heat exchange apparatus according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The heat exchange apparatus in the second preferred embodiment is generally structurally and functionally similar to the first preferred embodiment, except that the heat exchanger in the second preferred embodiment has a first wick structure 50 provided in the first and the second chamber 211, 221 of the condensing section 21 and the vaporization section 22, respectively; and a second wick structure 50 provided in each of the passages 231 of the interconnection section 23. The first wick structure 50 is formed in the first and second chambers 211, 221 on their facing inner wall surfaces; and the second wick structure 50 is formed in the passages 231 on their respective facing inner wall surfaces. The first wick structure 50 provided in the first and second chambers 211, 221 and the second wick structure 50 provided in the passages 231 are intended to help the liquid-phase working fluid to more quickly flow from the first chamber 211 of the condensing section 21 back to the second chamber 221 of the vaporization section 22, so as to obtain further improved vapor-liquid circulation efficiency.

The first and second wick structures 50 can be any one of meshes, fibers, sintered powder, different combinations of meshes and sintered powder, and microgrooves.

Please refer to FIGS. 6A and 6B, in which a heat exchange apparatus 1 according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. Again, the heat exchange apparatus 1 in the third preferred embodiment is generally structurally and functionally similar to the first preferred embodiment, except that the heat exchanger 20 in the third preferred embodiment includes a plurality of parallelly stacked and spaced radiating fins 25 and a plurality of heat pipes 26 perpendicularly extended through the radiating fins 25. Each of the heat pipes 26 has a condensing end 261, a vaporization end 262, and an internal chamber 264 (see FIG. 6B). A wick structure 50 is provided in the chamber 264 on its facing inner wall surfaces. The condensing ends 261 and the vaporization ends 262 of the plurality of heat pipes 26 define a condensing section 21 and a vaporization section 22, respectively. And, the condensing section 21 and the vaporization section 22 are located in the first space 13 and the second space 14, respectively.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a variant of the heat exchange apparatus 1 according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this variant, the enclosure 10 is further provided with a plurality of first vents 161 and a plurality of second vents 162. The first vents 161 are through holes formed on the enclosure 10 between the partition plate 15 and the first air inlet 104 to communicate with the first space 13; and the second vents 162 are through holes formed on the enclosure 10 between the partition plate 15 and the second air inlet 105 to communicate with the second space 14.

Further, a first and a second forced convection element 40, 41 are further provided to align with and connect to the first and the second air inlet 104, 105, respectively. Since the first and second forced convection elements 40, 41 are structurally and functionally similar to those in the first preferred embodiment, they are not repeatedly discussed herein.

The above-described heat exchange apparatus 1 of the present invention can be mounted on a heat-generating device, such as a communication chassis, an electronic device, or other devices that require heat dissipation, to effectively provide excellent heat exchange efficiency while restraining foreign matters from invading into the heat-generating device and the like via the heat exchange apparatus 1.

In brief, the heat exchange apparatus of the present invention is superior to the prior art heat exchanger due to the following advantages: (1) capable of restraining or stopping foreign matters from invading into the heat-generating device via the heat exchange apparatus; (2) providing good heat exchange efficiency; and (3) providing good heat dissipation effect.

The present invention has been described with some preferred embodiments thereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications in the shape, structure, elements or manners of the described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention that is intended to be limited only by the appended claims. 

1. A heat exchange apparatus, comprising: an enclosure being provided with a first air inlet, a second air inlet, at least one first space, and at least one second space; the first and the second space being isolated from each other, and the first and the second air inlet being communicable with the first and the second space, respectively; and a heat exchanger being arranged inside the enclosure and located between the first and the second space; and having a working fluid filled therein.
 2. The heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger includes a condensing section, a vaporization section and an interconnection section; the condensing section and the vaporization section being located in the first and the second space, respectively, and the interconnection section being located between the first and the second space with two opposite ends extended between and connected to the condensing section and the vaporization section.
 3. The heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the condensing section and the vaporization section internally define a first chamber and a second chamber, respectively, and the interconnection section includes a plurality of pipes; and each of the pipes of the interconnection section internally defining a passage communicating the first chamber with the second chamber.
 4. The heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a plurality of radiating fins provided between any two adjacent ones of the plurality of pipes.
 5. The heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger includes a plurality of stacked and spaced radiating fins and a plurality of heat pipes perpendicularly extended through the radiating fins.
 6. The heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pipes are equally spaced from one another.
 7. The heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pipes are unequally spaced from one another.
 8. The heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the enclosure further has a partition plate provided therein; the partition plate being located between the vaporization section and the condensing section with peripheral edges tightly abutted on inner wall surfaces of the enclosure, so as to isolate the first space from the second space.
 9. The heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the enclosure is formed from a first cover and a second cover, which are aligned with and connected to each other to together define the first and second spaces in between them.
 10. The heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the enclosure is formed from a first cover and a second cover, which are aligned with and connected to each other to together define the first and second spaces therein.
 11. The heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are internally provided on respective facing inner wall surfaces with a wick structure, and wherein the passages are also provided on respective facing inner wall surfaces with another wick structure.
 12. The heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the each of the heat pipes has a condensing end, a vaporization end, and an internal chamber; the condensing ends of the heat pipes together defining a condensing section, the vaporization ends of the heat pipes together defining a vaporization section, and the internal chambers being provided on respective facing inner wall surfaces with a wick structure.
 13. The heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the enclosure further has a partition plate provided therein; the partition plate being located between the vaporization section and the condensing section with peripheral edges tightly abutted on inner wall surfaces of the enclosure, so as to isolate the first space from the second space.
 14. The heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a first and a second forced convection element, which are aligned with and connected to the first and the second air inlet, respectively.
 15. The heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a first and a second forced convection element, which are aligned with and connected to the first and the second air inlet, respectively.
 16. The heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the enclosure is further provided with a plurality of first vents and a plurality of second vents; the first vents being formed on the enclosure between the partition plate and the first air inlet to communicate with the first space, and the second vents being formed on the enclosure between the partition plate and the second air inlet to communicate with the second space.
 17. The heat exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the enclosure is further provided with a plurality of first vents and a plurality of second vents; the first vents being formed on the enclosure between the partition plate and the first air inlet to communicate with the first space, and the second vents being formed on the enclosure between the partition plate and the second air inlet to communicate with the second space. 